Shatner latest star to be a Diamond

Star Trek legend backs Trust fundraiser with latest signing

The enterprising Airdrieonians Supporters Trust have beamed up some additional intergalactic assistance, with Star Trek’s Captain James T Kirk joining Luke Skywalker in donating a signed team top for auction.

Veteran actor William Shatner is the latest Hollywood icon to back the trust’s fundraising campaign towards a new sensory room at the Excelsior Stadium, following g in the footsteps of Star Wars’ Mark rk Hamill and comedian Ricky y Gervais.

The Hamill and Gervais topss brought in more than £1000 and £ 600 respectively and Airdrieonians commercial director Douglas Allsop hopes that the latest top up for salee on eBay will secure even more, , with Trekkies from Americaa already bidding for Shatner’s’s sought-after signature.

Dougy said it has been a surreal real few weeks, watching a processionssion of world-renowned celebrities s hold up the Diamonds top, and he was full of praise for lifelong Airdrieonians nians fan Ross Owen, who has securedd all the autographed kits through his radio show connections.

“When Ross started tellingng me he would be able to get all theseese tops signed I found it hard to believe,” Dougy told the Advertiser.

“But he’s been amazing, totally great for the Trust. He goes up p in my estimation every day.

“It’s been a real privilege too see some of these tops. It’s not like they have signed it in an office and sent it back. They are happy to be pictured with it. They are really behind it.

“The Star Wars top raised £1000 and I know there is a bit of a rivalry between Star Wars and Star Trek. So we will just have to see if someone can beat it with an out-of-this-world bid.”

The money raised will be used to go towards creating The Diamond Sensory Room for kids with autism in a joint venture between the club, the stadium and the trust. A £10,000 fundraising target has been set for the room.

The room was opened for the first time in the tieti against Livingston and they already haveh a waiting list for this Saturday’s gamega against Stranraer.

Now they area looking to see how they can take it to the next level.

Dougy added:add “It has been such a whirlwind so far but it’s going well.

“We are w working with Hope For Autism to se see what equipment we should brin bring in or what we should do next.

“Against Li Livingston people couldn’t believe the size of it and it was comfortable for the kids. “Despite a 4-0 drubbing, everyone stayed tilltil the end.”

The n next fundraiser will take place on Thursday night with a pub quiz at the West End Bar.

It is £5 to enter and everyone is welcom welcome to get involved. For more information on the room contact douglas. a allsop@airdriefc. co com. To donate visit www. justgiving. com/ c rowd f u n d i n g / t h e di diamondsensoryroom pro project.